Town votes not to regulate birds in town

EGG, named by 3-year-old Nora Engstrom, roams a back yard in Mancos recently. The Town Board voted not to pass regulations about poultry in town.

After discussing the crowing of roosters, the Mancos Town Board voted against regulating the birds inside town limits last Wednesday.

After being approached about regulating the birds, a survey was sent out and board members discussed the survey, which garnered 103 responses.

"That is the most responses to a survey we have sent out," said Acting Town Manager Heather Alvarez. "The majority of people don't have problems with them in town, as long as there is some sort of regulation."

Currently, there is no regulation in Mancos for hens, roosters or other birds in town. But board members voted against adopting more regulations.

"I am against any ordinance," said Trustee Queenie Barz. "I enjoy hearing the roosters in the morning, the dogs bark and the cows across the field."

Barz said adopting more regulations would go against the town's motto.

"Our theme is 'Where the west lives'," she said. "I came home so I could hear the rooster crow."

Trustee Rovilla Ellis said that at times, the birds can be annoying.

"I was a farm girl so I was used to chickens and roosters, but having a rooster crow at 2 or 3 in the morning is not too pleasant," she said. "But I don't have any near me now, so I don't want to address that."

Others felt the regulation would be a waste of time.

"I've lived there 10 years and yes, I do hear the chickens and I do hear the rooster now and then, but I hear dogs barking, kids screaming and engines revving," Trustee Perry D. Lewis said. "I think we are spinning our wheels and wasting our time on a chicken ordinance."

Mayor Rachael Simbeck said current regulations, such as animals running at large and noise ordinances, can take care of most problems.

In other action, Mancos Liquor's license was renewed with no reported violations.

Board members also looked at and voted on the new e-reader/e-mail policy. Everyone but Trustee Chip Tuthill voted in favor of the policy.

"This document treats the board members in the same category as an entry-level employee," he said.

Alvarez also reminded the board that every e-mail they sent out from their town address about town business was public information.

The board was then given new Kindle Fires. The e-readers were purchased by the town, to the tune of about $200 each, to save money on printing. Alvarez said that not having to print board packets for the board meetings would save $2,000 in one year.